Second my take on true scale marine. It was fast and dirty project for fun but i have to say that i like the guy :> Ive newer have that much fun with marines since i left elementary school (well to be honest Ive newer liked them so i choose Alpha legion - old school )

niedziela, 23 października 2011

Casus belli for a war in Eastern Galicia was armed action of Ukrainians on 1st of November 1918. In well prepared action about 1500 soldiers took Lvov capitol of eastern Galicia without much of resistance. Weak and unprepared Polish units were able to keep west part of the city but were removed from every strategically important point.

As Lvov was one major polish city (probably 70% of almost 200 000 citizens were polish) reaction of forming Poland was inevitable.

Captured Train was included in group of maj. Julian Stachniewicz along with 470 soldiers of 4th and 5th legionary regiments, six machine guns and battery of 4 field cannons. At 5 of November group moved from Krakow in the direction of Przemysl which has been meanwhile captured with its citadel by Ukrainians.

On the way in Bochnia captured train was split in two and christened PP1 Piłsudczyk comanded by captain Wilk-Wyrwiński and PP2 Śmiały commanded by Lt . Jerzy Lewandowski

At 10 th of November Śmiały raided Przemysl successfully and with its support Ukrainians were removed from Przemysl before evening of 11th.

Since 12 th much stronger battle group commended by col. Michal Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski was being formed to revive Lvov locked in urban combat of weak polish forces and many volunteers (including many youths and students of who were later christened Lvov eaglings ).

Battle group gathered in Przemysl numbered around 1500 men at 18th November.

Most important was an element of surprise and fast tempo of attack making it difficult to Ukrainians to form prepared defence.

First Śmiały raided railway up to Medyka as scouting by combat and was successful without meeting any organized defence able to sop it.

In the evening whole group were loaded into 6 trains and included both armored trains Śmiały and Piłsudczyk. Leading element was PP1 Śmiały which was strengthened by some elements of PP 1.

Smiały was commanded by Captain Ludwik Hickiewicz and its crew consisted of 6 officers (including later commander Lt Małagowski) and 106 NCOs and soldiers including pioneer team for rail works.

Trains mission was to clear the rail and protection of whole group in transit by territories occupied by Ukrainians. Expedition called „Relief” left Przemysl at 5 AM 19 November. After traveling 30 kilometers it was attacked by artillery near Sądowa Wisznia but shelling was ineffective. Around 2 PM at 20 th Relief reached Main station in Lvov. Then full of armed Austro Hungarian units that not participated in fights in the city but in Polish hands.

sobota, 15 października 2011

First noted ruler of Poland is dux Mieszko founder of the Piast dynasty. His birth land was teritory around Gniezno in western Poland near today Poznań. We don’t know many thing about him, and even his predecessors names we know only from sources 100 years younger, but we know he was ruler of Slavic tribe or group of tribes called Polans.

Forest people - Psiloi element

What is sure, is that Mieszko after some negotiations baptized himself and whole country with the help of Bohemian king. Taking Christianity was political choice, not religious, and taking it through Bohemia was meant (with success) to bypass Holy Roman Empire political control over soon to be created first polish Christian metropolis, and to have here appointed Bishop of non German origin. It was bold decision and well executed. Polish church was never subject to German rule and under direct oversee of Pope (unlike for ex Bohemia), it took political weapon of Christianization from Emperor and his barons hand (which was very real threat because Christianization by the sword was deemed only right way to do it) and it legitimized aggressive expansion onto pagan territories.

Baptism of Mieszko and his court take place in 966 together with his wedding with Bohemian princess Dobrava.

Next what we know about him are his wars.

Retainers

In 967 he took control of Pomerania conquering Weneds and grave Wichmann in decisive battle.

In 972 Mieszko beated forces of grave Hodo in battle of Cedynia about which I wrote before (first battle of Polish forces we know something about).

Somewhere in 970 ties he took Grody Czerwińskie – Group of cities in Russ border.

In 974 he was part of opposition against rule of Otton II and supporter of his opponents for a throne. In 979 Otton II invaded Poland but was unsuccessful and leave without any gains. In 980 Otto II and Mieszko signed truce and he married his second official wife (he removed many pagan wives before marriage with Dobrawa) daughter of grave Dytrick of Northmak of Holy Roman Empire.

In 980 ties he was allied to Eric king of Sweden against Denmark’s king Harald Bluetooth and his son Svein Forkbeard and they were victorious and beated the Danes in unknown battles.

Mieszko and his guards, Polish forces did not use banners then

After Emperor Otton II defeat in Italy, in 983 great Slav rebellion against German rule break out and was successful in establishing West Slavic country of Wielets and Obotrites for next 2 centuries. Meanwhile his political party in German backed the Quarrelsome claim to throne against young Otto III heir of deceased Otto II but switch sides around 985 and sided with Otto III as pagan Slavic rebellion was dangerous to his rule and fought with Saxons against pagan west Slavs. In 986 he was for sure ally of Otto III and his mother Teophano. Probably around this time he conqueredLesser Poland with Krakow – country of Vistulans (but we are not sure when exactly country of Vistulans became part of Poland) and Silesia (year 985 is year of creating few Slavic cities in Silesia including Wrocław [Breslau]) from the Bohemians now sworn enemies of Mieszko.

All 3 cavalry elements with Mieszko as general

Close before his death he issued document known as Dagome iudex (first know Polish document), in which he declared his whole country allegiance to Pope – it is very important as he list all territories subjected to his rule, so we know exactly what was in its borders.

We are not sure why he is called Dagome here, hypothesis says it has something to do with his Christian name, but we are really not sure, similarly we are not sure what was the meaning of his name Mieszko with many versions in documents of the time like Mesco,Mieszk, Mieszka, Misika, Mieszek, Mysko. We know for sure that he died in 992 of old age. And that he left his country to three sons Boleslaw, Lambert and Mieszko and Boleslaw known as the Brave later first crowned king of Poland took control over whole country.

Next time last 4 elements of the army and the times of Boleslaw the Brave !

PS: All models are QR miniatures, from Army of Mieszko - Early Polish DBA set.and few of riders have small conversion work done on them (Two spear men made from axe wielding cavalryman, one extra bow and two chain mask on the helmet) to make them more uniqie.

czwartek, 6 października 2011

Today something different - Infinity Nomads, Ive painted so far.There are out there some models with better sculpting, some of better casting but they are rare, singles and are made from resin. Corvus Belli with Infinity line is giving best of the best quality in sculpting and its consistent. You can argue about few poses or oldest models, but Infinity line is just Top stuff on the market.Anime stylizations could not be to everyone taste (I don't like anime to much) but they are not big eyes small mouths and ridiculous weapons anime, but Hi-teh Ghost in the Shell style.

wtorek, 4 października 2011

Today less history more photos :>This is my first painted army for DBA II/32 Later Carthaginians. They were finished earlier this year (and i have few alternative elements that are still in their silvery nakedness, and it lacks a camp..) to playable standard.

Carthaginian elements African infantry with sacred band and Cavalry with Hannibal himself and Elephant. Elephants in Carthaginian army were African forest elephants (now extinct) much smaller from Indian elephants of Successsor states and do not carried towers, but favorite elephant of Hannibal himself was called Syrian - some scientist claim that he could be of now extinct Syrian breed - that shared morphology with Indian elephants - so lets cal this one Syrian :> Unfortunately Syrian died soon after crossing the Alps ;( Unfortunately his ears clearly points to africa as place of origin

Numidian cavalry and moorish Psiloi. Elite Numidian cavalry was spear of Hannibal's forces. As long as he has Numidians on his side he was winning brilliant victories, when he lost it he lost battle of Zama and whole war..

Piechota Galijska, która tworzyła największy kontyngent w armii Hannibala w Italii. Gallic Infantry. Its composed most of his army in Italy. Was later rearmed as his africans veterans with captured Roman equipment.

And last element is of Iberic infantry, Hannibal fought successful wars in Iberian peninsula and conquered most of Iberic and celtiberic tribes from the coastal regions and sometimes much further into Iberia proper before invasion of Italy.